X-ray apparatus



Sept. 22, 1953 w. H. HAUPT X-RAY APPARATUS Filed March 21, 1951 3nventorWALTER H. HAUPT In .I. nm L Gttornegs Patented Sept. 22, 1953 X-RAYAPPARATUS Walter H. Haupt, Kenton Hills, Ky., assignor to Keleket X-RayCorporation, Cincinnati, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application March 21, 1951, Serial No. 216,688

This invention relates to X-ray apparatus, and more particularly to anadjustable support for mounting an X-ray device such as a film tunnel orfluorescent screen in operative relation with an X-ray table.

8 Claims. 7 (Cl. 250-58) The invention has special application to themounting of a tunnel or screen in such manner that it can be quickly andeasily moved into and out of operative position with minimum effort bythe operator. For example, in its operative position the tunnel orscreen extends substantially completely across the table and generallyparallel with the table top, and when the patient is to be moved, it isdesirable to shift the tunnel or screen out of the way. If the table ishorizontal, this may be accomplished by means of a support mounting thetunnel or screen for swinging movement on a vertical axis, but if such amounting is employed with a tilting table, when the table is nothorizontal, provision must be made for holding or locking the tunnel orscreen in inoperative position.

If the tunnel or screen is mounted for pivoting on a horizontal axis,the relation of this axis to the center of gravity of the device isimportant. Both the tunnel and screen are of con siderable weight owingto the quantity of lead or lead glass necessarily included therein forshielding purposes, with this weight ranging from -20 pounds in the caseof a fluorescent screen to as much as 60 pounds for a tunnel, and thusin either case minimum effort is required of the operator if the pivotalaxis of the device is located substantially at its center of gravity.However, this would normally result in locating the axis too farforwardly of the table top for convenience, so that even with the tunnelor screen tilted perpendicularly to the table top, it would stillinterfere with the desired free access to the table. On the other hand,if the axis is located between the back end of the device and its centerof gravity, the operator would be re- 7 quired to lift a substantialpart of the weight of the tunnel or screen in shifting it between itsoperative and inoperative positions. Furthermore, if this condition werecorrected by counterweighting, the result would be a further increase inthe weight of an article which is already necessarily heavier than isdesired, and if a spring counterbalance were used, it would produce anobjectionable force tending to move the tunnel away from the table topin tilted positions of the table.

It is accordingly one of the principal objects of the present inventionto provide an adjustable support for mounting an X-ray device such as afilm tunnel or a fluorescent screen in operative relation with an X-raytable for movement between an operative position generally parallel withthe top of the table and an inoperative position generally perpendicularto the table top which will support the device for pivotal movementabout an axis extending longitudinally of the table top and locatedsufliciently near the rear end of the device so that in its operativeposition the device will be substantially clear of the table top toprovide free access thereto, which does not require lock to hold thetunnel or screen in inoperative position, and which is so constructedthat the center of gravity of the tunnel or screen travels substantiallyparallel with the table top while the device is being moved between itsoperative and inoperative positions to minimize the effort required ofthe operator.

An additional object of the invention is to provide such an adjustablesupport for an X-ray device which includes a simple combination of linksproportioned and arranged in such relation with each other and with thecenter of gravity of the device supported thereby that the device willmove quickly and easily between an operative position parallel with thetable top and an inoperative position perpendicular with the table topwithout requiring lifting of the weight of the device and withoutrequiring a lock to hold the device in its inoperative position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, the accompanying drawing and the appended claims.

In the drawing- Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a supportingdevice for an X-ray film tunnel constructed and arranged in accordancewith the invention, with the tunnel being shown in operative positionparallel with an X-ray table top;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to Fig. 1 and showingthe tunnel in its inoperative or vertical position perpendicular to thetable top;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in side elevation illustrating theoperation of the adjustable support;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly broken awayin section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view looking into the direction indicated by theline 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section showing the manually operated lock forholding the tunnel in its operative position.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, Figs. 1 and 2 show fragments of the top ID of an X-raytable, and the tower l I is mounted as indicated at l2 for slidingmovement longitudinally and laterally of the table top, as well as fortilting with the table top in the case of a tilting table. A spot filmtunnel I 3 is mounted for purposes of fluoroscopic and radiographicexamination of a patient lying on the table top it, the tunnel beingshown as including a fluorescent screen 15 and having a cassette I6carried therein for movement in the tunnel laterally of the table topinto and out of an exposure position between the screen I and the tabletop.

The invention provides an adjustable support for mounting this tunnel l3for movement between the operative and inoperative positions shown inFigs. 1 and 2, respectively, without requiring lifting of the weight ofthe tunnel or a lock for holding it in inoperative position. The supportincludes a main frame member 2!) of tubular construction which extendslongitudinally of the table and is provided with a supporting post 2|adapted to be received in an extension portion 22 of the usual carriage(not shown) mounted for vertical adjustment with suitable counterbalancewithin tower H. The frame is approximately equal in length to the widthof tunnel l3, and a downwardly extending arm 24 is rigidly secured toeach end thereof. At each side of the tunnel is a pair of links 2523 and2'|-28 respectively, and the ends of these arms are pivoted to theadjacent arm 24 and to a boss on the side of the tunnel l3 located at aposition intermediate the rearward end of the tunnel and the center ofgravity of the tunnel, which is indicated at 33.

The upper links 25 and 21 of each pair are shown as straight, and theyare provided with pivot bolts 34 and 35 so positioned that these linksextend substantially parallel with the tunnel in its operative position.The links 26 and 28 are shown as including a straight forward portionand a curved rearward portion designed to provide maximum clearanceunder the tunnel for a patient. These links 26 and 28 are maintained inoutwardly spaced relation with the links 25 and 21 by means of bossportions 36 and 31 on the links and the arms 24 respectively throughwhich their respective pivot bolts '38 and 39 extend. As shown, thepivot bolts 38 are located at the lower ends of the arms 24 invertically spaced relation with the pivot bolts 34, and the pivot bolts39 are located both below and in rearwardly spaced relation with thepivot bolts 35 for the links 25 in the horizontal position of the tunnelas shown in Fig. 3,

The respective links and pivot positions of the links in each pair areso selected and. proportioned that in its inoperative position thetunnel 5 will be substantially clear of the table top it as shown inFig. 2 and also that during the movement .of the tunnel between itsoperative and inoperative positions, the center of gravity 24 .and thetunnel.

cation of the tunnel laterally of the table in its inoperative position.These conditions, together with the requirement that the center ofgravity of the tunnel be at substantially the same height in both thehorizontal and vertical positions of the tunnel, determine the length ofone set of links, for example links 25 and El, and the relativepositions of their pivot points on the arms It will be apparent that ifthe "links 25 and 21 were held stationary and the tunnel were pivotedabout the bolts the center of gravity 33 would rise through 90 about aradius equal to the distance between it and the pivot bolts 33.Accordingly, the links 26 and 28 and their respective pivot positionsare selected to counteract this rising movement of the center ofgravity, and to provide a guiding action such that the desiredsubstantially horizontal movement of the center of gravity of the tunnelis necessarily obtained as the tunnel moves between horizontal andvertical positions.

Stops are provided for limiting the angular movement of the tunnel toapproximately 90. With the several links arranged as shown, a suitablestop for preventing over-travel of the tunnel beyond its verticalposition comprises a stud or other projection i l on one or both of thelinks 26 and 28 which is positioned to abut the under side of theadjacent link 25 or 27 when the tunnel reaches vertical position, asshown in Fig. 2 and in dotted lines in Fig. 3. Over-travel of the tunnelsubstantially beyond its horizontal position is prevented by thearrangement of the pivots for the links on the bosses 36, since if thetunnel should start to move counterclockwise beyond the horizontal asviewed in Fig. 3, the bosses 33 on the links 26 and 28 will abut theunder side of the links 25 and 2? to prevent such further movement.

A releasable lock is provided for positively retaining the tunnel in itsoperative position. Referring particularly to Figs. 4 and a strikerplate 59 is riveted or otherwise secured to the 1 front of the frame 26at one end thereof and is 33 of the tunnel will travel as nearly aspossible i in a plane parallel with the table top. This movement isillustrated diagrammatically in 3, in which the path traveled by thecenter of gravity 33 is represented by the broken line 43 which showsthat while the tunnel is moving through approximately 90 from ahorizontal to a vertical position, its center of gravity moves in arelatively fiat curve such that its total vertical travel is relativelyslight. Furthermore, Fig. 3 shows that as the tunnel approaches avertical position, the path 40 of its center of gravity is substantiallyhorizontal, and thus a sufficiently balanced condition is obtained tocause the tunnel to remain in or near a vertical position withoutrequiring a lock or other Ittaining means and irrespective of the tiltedp051? tion which the table top In and column ll may assume.

The proper proportions of the links and the relative positions of theirpivot points may be determined by first establishing the desired 10-provided with a bore Eljand a yoke shaped member 52 overhanging thisbore. The tunnel 53 carries a spring loaded plunger 55 adapted to bereceived in the bore 5! to lock the tunnel with respect to the frame.The plunger 55 is mounted for reciprocating movement in a hollow bolt 53threaded in the rearward end of the tunnel l3 and having a spring 5'5therein adapted to urge the plunger 55 towards the frame 253. Theplunger 55 is connected by means such as a nut 58 and wire 59 with ahandle knob 68 at the front end of the tunnel which includes a boltportion 6| mounted for axial movement in a hollow bolt 62 threaded inthe forward end wall of the tunnel.l3.

With this construction, it will be seen that when the tunnel is beingmoved from verticai to horizontal position, the plunger 55 will protrudefrom the rearward end of the tunnel as shown in Fig. 2 so that as thetunnel approaches horizontal position, the plunger will be camrnedinwardly as it slides up the lower surface of the striker plate 5t untilit reaches enters the bore 5| to lock the tunnel against furthermovement, the part 52 serving as a guide to prevent the plunger frommoving past bore 55. The other end of the frame 23 is shown as providedwith another striker plate similar to the striker plate 53 and similarlyprovided with a yoke shaped portion, but having no bore therethrough.This striker plate cooperates with a fixed pin on the rearward end ofthe tunnel to act as a stop but without locking action. To move thetunnel from operative position, it is merely necessary to pull the knob60 sufiiciently to release the plunger 55 from bore 5|, after which thetunnel may be swung to its vertical position as shown in Fig. 3.

It will be apparent that the particular proportions and pivotingarrangements of the several links may be varied as desired to producethe above operating characteristics, and further that tunnels andscreens of different proportions and weight distributions may requiredifferent link arrangements. By way of illustrative example, specificdimensions will be given for a support found satisfactory for use with atunnel approximately 30 inches in overall length having its center ofgravity located approximately 14 /4 inches from its rearward end. Forthis tunnel, the links 25 and 21 may be inches in length between theirpivot points and the links 26 and 28 may be proportioned as shown with astraight line spacing of 9% inches between their pivot points. The pivotbolts 34 and 38 may then be substantially 3% inches between centers, andthe centers of the pivot bolts 35 and 39 may be 1%; inches in verticalspacing and %s inch in horizontal spacing. With the links proportionedand arranged in these dimensional relationships, it will be .found thatthe total vertical travel of the center of gravity of the tunnel inmoving between horizontal and vertical positions is not more thanapproximately inch.

As pointed out, this adjustable support is simple in construction, andit may be be readily adapted to tunnels, fluorescent screens and otherX-ray devices which it is desired to mount for movement betweenhorizontal and vertical positions with relation to an X-ray table top.It is particularly advantageous for use in X-ray examination work inwhich it is desirable for the operator to have one hand free forpossible manipulation of the patient or other purposes, since it makesit possible to swing the tunnel or other device into and out ofoperative position with minimum effort and without requiringmanipulation of a lock or other retainer beyond the simple act ofpulling the knob 50 when it is desired to release the tunnel to itsinoperative position, and this is true whether the table is horizontalor is tilted in either direction. At the same time, this support ofiersthe further practical advantage of light weight and minimum bulk, bothof which are important considerations in connection with X-rayequipment.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferredembodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes maybe made therein without departing from the scope of the invention whichis defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: r

1.. An adjustable support for mounting an X- ray device in operativerelation with an X-ray table for movement between an operativepositiongenerally parallel with the top of said table and an inoperativeposition generally perpendicular tosaid table top and at the backthereof, comprising a main supporting frame adapted for mounting at theback of said table, a first link at each side of said frame pivoted atone end to said frame on a first axis parallel with said table top,means pivoting the other end of each said link to said device on asecond axis parallel with said first axis and located between the centerof gravity of said device and the rearward end thereof, a second link ateach side of said frame pivoted at one end thereof to said frame on athird axis parallel with said first axis, and means pivoting the otherend of each said second link to said device on an axis parallel withsaid third axis and spaced from said second axis, the length and axes ofsaid second link being proportioned to maintain the center of gravity ofsaid device substantially in a plane parallel with said table top assaid device moves between said operative and inoperative positionsproviding for uncounterweighted movement of said device between saidpositions with minimum efiort on the part of the operator.

2. An adjustable support for mounting an X- ray device in operativerelation with an X-ray table for movement between an operative positiongenerally parallel with the top of said table and an inoperativeposition generally perpendicular to said table top and at the backthereof, comprising a main supporting frame adapted for mounting at theback of said table, a first link at each side of said frame pivoted atone end to said frame on a first axis parallel with said table top,means pivoting the other end of each said link to said device on asecond axis parallel with said first axis and located between the centerof gravity of said device and the rearward end thereof, a second link ateach side of said frame pivoted to said frame and to said device on axesparallel with and spaced from the pivotal axes of said first link andproportioned to guide the center of gravity of said device in a pathsubstantially parallel with said table top as said device moves betweensaid operative and inoperative positions providing for uncounterweightedmovement of said device between said positions with minimum effort onthe part of the operator, and cooperating portions on said linksarranged for abutting contact upon movement of said device beyond saidpositions parallel with and perpendicular to said table top to formstops limiting said movement of said device.

3.' An adjustable support for mounting an X- ray device in operativerelation with an X-ray table for movement between an operative positiongenerally parallel with the top of said table and an inoperativeposition generally perpendicular to said table top, comprising a mainsupporting frame adapted for mounting at the back of said table, a pairof links at either side of said frame, means pivoting the rearward endsof said links in each said pair to said frame on a pair of spaced axesparallel with said table top, means pivoting the forward ends of saidlinks to said device on a second pair of spaced axes parallel with saidfirst pair of axes and located between the center of gravity of saiddevice and the rearward end thereof to provide four axes for each saidpair of links arranged to cause the center of gravity of said device totravel in a path substantially parallel with said table top as saiddevice moves between said operative and inoperative positions providingfor uncounterweighted movement of said device between said positionswith minimum effort on the part of the operator.

4. An adjustable support for mounting an X- ray device in operativerelation with a horizontal X-ray table for movement between a generallyhorizontal operative position above said tableand a generally verticalinoperative position at the back of said table, comprising a mainSupporting frame adapted for mounting at the back of said table, a pairof links at either side of said frame, means pivoting the rearward endsof said links in each said pair to said frame on a pair of horizontaland vertically spaced axes, and means pivoting the forward ends of saidlinks to said device on a second pair of horizontal spaced axes locatedbetween the center of gravity of said device and the rearward endthereof providing for uncounterweighted movement of said device betweensaid horizontal and vertical positions while maintaining the center ofgravity thereof in a substantially horizontal plane.

5. An adjustable support for mounting an X- ray device in operativerelation with a horizontal X-ray table for movement between a generallyhorizontal operative position above said table and a generally verticalinoperative positionat the back .of said table, comprising a mainsupporting frame adapted for mounting at the back of said table, a pairof links at either side of said frame, means pivoting the rearward endsof said links in each said pair to said frame on a pair of horizontaland vertically spaced axes, means pivoting the forward ends of saidlinks to said device on a second pair of horizontal spaced axes locatedbetween the center of gravity of said device and the rearward endthereof providing for uncounterweighted movement of said device betweensaid horizontal and vertical positions while maintaining the center ofgravity thereof in a substantially horizontal plane, complementaryreleasable locking means on said device andsaid frame for locking saiddevice in fixed relation with said frame in said operative position, andmeans for guiding said locking means into locking engagement uponmovement of said device to said operative position.

-6. An adjustable support for mounting an X- ray device in operativerelation with an X-ray table for movement between an operative positiongenerally parallel with the top of said table and an inoperativeposition generally perpendicular to said table top, comprising a mainsupporting frame adapted for mounting at the back of said table, a pairof links at either side of said frame, means pivoting the rearward endsof r said links in each said pair to said frame on a pair of spaced axesparallel with said table top, means pivoting the forward ends of saidlinks to said device on a second pair of spaced axes parallel with saidfirst pair of axes and located between the center of gravity of saiddevice and the rearward end thereof, said links being proportioned tocause the center of gravity of said device to travel in a pathsubstantially parallel with said table top as said de- Vice movesbetween said operative and inoperative positions providing foruncounterweighted movement of said device between said positions withminimum effort on the part of the operator, means forming a spacer atthe pivotal connection between said device and one of said links in eachsaid pair, said pivotal connection being spaced with relation to theother said link of each said pair to abut said other link upon movementof said device beyond one of said positions to form a stop limiting saidmovement of said device, and a projection on one of said links arrangedfor abutting contact with the other said link of the same pair to limitmovement of said device beyond the other said position.

'7. An adjustablesupportfor mounting an X- ray device in operativerelation with a horizontal Xray table for movement between a hori ontaloperative position above the top of said table and a verticalinoperative position at the back of said table, comprising a mainsupporting frame adapted for mounting at the back of said table, a pairof upper and lower links at either side of said frame, means pivotingthe rearward ends of said links in each said pair to said frame on apair of horizontal and vertically spaced axes, means pivoting the upperlink of each said pair to said device on a horizontal axis locatedbetween the center of gravity of the device and the rearward endthereof, means pivoting the lower link of each said pair to said deviceon a horizontal axis located below and nearer the rearward end of saiddevice thanthe pivotal connection of said upper links to said device inthe horizontal posi tion thereof, the length and axes of said linksbeing proportioned and arranged to guide the center of gravity of saiddevice in a substantiallv horizontal path as said device moves betweenhorizontal and vertical positions providing for uncounterweightedmovement of said device between said positions with minimum efiort onthe part of the operator, and a spacer at said connection of each saidlower link to said device located for abutting contact with the adjacentsaid upper link upon movement of said device beyond said horizontalposition.

'8. An adjustable support for mounting an X- ray device in operativrelation with a horizontal X-ray table for movement between a horizontal4 operative position above the top of said table and a verticalinoperative position at the back of said table, comprising a mainsupporting frame adapted for mounting at the back of said table, a pairof upper and lower links at either side of said frame, means pivotingthe rearward ends of said links in each said pair to said frame on apair of horizontal and vertically spaced axes, means pivoting the upperlink of each said pair to said device on a horizontal axis locatedbetween. the center of gravity of the device and the rearward endthereof, means pivoting the lower link of each said pair to said deviceon a horizontal axis located below and nearer the rearward end of saiddevice than the pivotal connection of said upper links to said device inthe horizontal position thereof, the length and axes of saidlinks beingproportioned and arranged to guide the center of gravity of said devicein a substantially horizontal path as said device moves between saidhorizontal and vertical positions providing for uncounterweightedmovement of said device between said positions with minimum effort onthe part of the operator, a spacer at said connection of each said lowerlink to said device located for abutting contact with the adjacent saidupper link upon movement of said device beyond said horizontal position,and a projection on one of said lower links arranged for contact withthe adjacent said upper link to limit movement of said device beyondsaid vertical position.

W'ALTER H. HAUPI'.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,179,357 Stava Nov. 7, 1939 2,504,687 lollstein Apr. 18, 19502,508,449 Davis et a1. es May 23, 1950

